Missoula Mavericks overcome slow start to top Helena Senators 7-3

MISSOULA – The Missoula Mavericks and Helena Senators battled for the second straight rainy Wednesday night. This time the Mavs finished strong in a game they could actually finish. The two teams battled through on-and-off rain until Missoula sewed up the win 7-3.

Helena started with a pair of runs in the first, thanks to an RBI single by Colin Sassano and a sacrifice fly from Taylor Carlson. But the Senators managed just one more run off of five different Mavs pitchers, and it came off of a Missoula error in the sixth inning.

Missoula’s offense picked up three hits through the first three innings, but the Mavs couldn’t break through for a run off Helena starting pitcher Hunter Kirkpatrick until the fourth. Beau King chopped a high bounce over the third baseman’s head with the bases loaded to bring in a pair and tie the game.

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The Mavericks added two more runs in each of the next two innings. Tradd Richardson hit another two-run single with the bases loaded in the fifth. The Mavs James Martin pitched in an RBI single in the sixth and later scored on an error.

Missoula scored the final run of the game when Clayton Franke was walked with the bases loaded in the seventh inning. Kaden Heidrick shut down the Senators over the final two innings to pick up the save.

These two will meet for the fourth straight Wednesday next week in Helena.

Derek Buerkle is the sports director for KPAX. He grew up in Big Timber, and graduated from Sweet Grass County High School. He loves that he is able to live and work in his home state and in a town as special as Missoula.